The Role of Rituals
When I first read Erica Keswin’s Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines into Workplace Magic, one line immediately stuck with me:
“A ritual is something you’d miss if it went away.”
That idea captures exactly what I’ve seen in teams time and time again—rituals aren’t fluff. They’re anchors. They give rhythm to our days, a sense of belonging to our teams, and meaning to our work.
In my S.P.A.R.K. framework, the “A” stands for Action Rituals—the daily or weekly habits that normalize play. Where Erica shows how rituals build culture, I’ve found that playful rituals build energy, creativity, and connection. They’re the bridge between good intentions and consistent behavior, helping teams move from “we should be more playful” to actually being playful.
Research supports this, too: rituals increase belonging, psychological safety, and performance—all the ingredients of thriving teams. When we intentionally embed playful habits into our week, work stops feeling like a proving ground and starts feeling like a playground.
What Are Action Rituals?
Action Rituals are small, repeatable habits that normalize play and connection in the workplace. They aren’t extra tasks; they’re systems that keep energy high, spark creativity, and build stronger teams.
As James Clear famously said:
“We don’t rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems.”
Rituals are the systems that make engagement, creativity, and play a natural part of work, not an afterthought.
Signs Your Workplace Needs Action Rituals
If your team exhibits any of these, it’s time to consider Action Rituals:
- Meetings feel long and draining, rather than energizing
- Wins go uncelebrated, big or small
- Mistakes feel taboo, creating stress instead of learning
- Play feels forced or “unprofessional”
Signs Your Workplace Has Action Rituals
Conversely, healthy teams show these signs:
- Meetings start with energy and end with purpose
- Wins are shared and celebrated regularly
- Mistakes are learning opportunities, not punishments
- Play and connection are intentionally built into the week
Examples of Action Rituals
Action Rituals can be daily, weekly, or one-off energizers, depending on your team culture.
Daily
- The Mr. Rogers Transition: Take intentional steps to shift into work mode — bonus points for a fun sweater or sneakers.
Meetings
- Playful Check-Ins: Gauge energy with Red/Yellow/Green or an “Emotional Weather Forecast.”
- Tell Me Something Good: Start meetings by sharing one thing you’re grateful for or proud of. Inspired by Vanessa Van Edwards.
Weekly
- Momentum Monday: A short activity to spark connection, like origami or “Two Truths and a Wish.”, inspired by Experiences for Mankind.
- Fri-Yay Brags: Everyone shares one win — big or small.
- Fail-a-bration: Celebrate flops and what was learned, inspired by Brad Montague .
Energizers
- Mandatory Recess: A cowbell rings — if you’re free, step away from your desk for 10 minutes of movement or fun.
- 30-Second Dance Party: Turn on a song and dance to reset energy instantly.
Onboarding Rituals
- Two Truths and a Stretch: Everyone shares two truths and one stretch goal.
- The Welcome Recess: 15-minute micro-play session in the first week.
- Play Passport: A digital or physical passport for new hires to collect playful experiences and connections.
Action Rituals and the S.P.A.R.K. Framework
Action Rituals are just one piece of the S.P.A.R.K. Framework, a system I developed to help teams and individuals harness Play Intelligence for lasting transformation.
Here’s a quick overview of the framework:
| Letter | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S | Safety | Psychological safety + permission to be vulnerable |
| P | Play Lens | Adopting a flexible, curious mindset toward challenges |
| A | Action Rituals | Daily or weekly habits that normalize play |
| R | Relationships | Creating trust-based, connected teams |
| K | Knowing Your Why | Tying play to meaningful outcomes and purpose |
How to Start Your Own Action Rituals
- Pick one micro-ritual to start: a playful check-in, a short team energizer, or a weekly celebration.
- Normalize it: make it predictable and part of your routine.
- Celebrate small wins: ritualize recognition for both achievements and lessons learned.
- Iterate: experiment with new rituals and notice what energizes your team.
Small, consistent rituals compound over time — creating teams that are energized, connected, and resilient.
If work feels draining by Friday, the solution isn’t more strategy or harder work — it’s Action Rituals. Small, intentional moments of play and connection transform energy, creativity, and culture.
Want to Start Bringing Action Rituals to Your Teams? 
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